Turner: Prospect of playing with Sia again convinced me to quit Saints

Jordan Turner says the prospect of playing with Sia Soliola again convinced him to leave Saints for Australia's NRL

John Yates

Published:15:30Thursday 14 July 2016

Share this article

Jordan Turner is set to turn a dream into reality after joining NRL club Canberra Raiders on a two-year deal from 2017 and will play in the country where his mother was born.

The 27-year-old Saints centre/stand-off said he was excited at the prospect of plying his trade Down Under and linking up with his former Langtree Park team-mate Sia Soliola.

Sia Soliola in action against Castleford

Turner declared: “It has been a long-standing dream of mine to play in the NRL. When Sia was at St Helens we got along really well. I spoke to him about Canberra and the team and he was very helpful in making my decision.

“I’ve been watching the Raiders closely this year because of the move. I know it’s going to be quite tough for me to break into the team. The centres are pushing for Origin, the back row is great and the halves are going really well.

“I can pretty much play anywhere. I’m just going to train hard and make the most of my chance when I get to Canberra.”

Raiders recruitment and high performance manager Peter Mulholland said he’s looking forward to seeing Turner join the NRL and said the Raiders will be looking for him to follow in the footsteps of other players from the Super League who have succeeded in Canberra.

“Jordan is an extremely talented and experienced player who joins us for two years from 2017. He has previously played alongside Sia Soliola at St Helens to win a premiership in 2014,” Mulholland said.

“We’re hoping Jordan can continue the Raiders successful recruitment from England and can join the likes of Sia, Josh Hodgson and Elliott Whitehead in making the transition to the NRL.

“The Raiders would like to wish Jordan all the best for the remainder of the season with Saints and look forward to him joining the club for the beginning of the 2017 pre-season.”